Why use scaffolds?
Scaffolds allow all students to access grade-level content. At UnboundEd, we empower educators to address the predictability of student outcomes through evidence-informed, engaging, affirming, and meaningful grade-level — GLEAM® instruction — so all students succeed academically. GLEAM instruction provides all students access to texts, tasks, and materials aligned with grade-appropriate college and career standards. For more information on GLEAM, see What is GLEAM® Instruction?
What are scaffolds?
Scaffolds are evidence-based practices that provide students support for unfamiliar or challenging aspects of a lesson. Effective scaffolds:
- Help students manage cognitive load — by freeing up working memory for new learning
- Preserve grade-level rigor
- Are gradually removed as students build proficiency
Analyzing a text to determine the complexity factors is a way to decide if and what scaffolds are needed. Qualitative text complexity analysis helps identify where some students may need additional support to read and work at grade-level. Qualitative text complexity is determined by analyzing Text Structure, Language and Vocabulary, Meaning and Purpose, and Knowledge Demands.
Use our Scaffolding Complex Test: Features of Text Structure tool to plan scaffolds to support individual students’ access to grade-level learning. This tool focuses on scaffolding to make the Text Structure visible and clear.